23 Pieces of Obsolete Tech That People Won't Stop Using

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 03/17/2024 in ftw

Just because something is new, doesn't make it better. Ask any of the people who gave their opinions in this gallery, stating the piece of "obsolete" tech that they refuse to stop using. Sometimes new means complicated and old means simple, and usually simple is better.

For example, take the original iPod. When it comes to paying music, we're now more than capable of doing so from our phones. However, while the convenience of opening an app and having all of the music you could ever want right at your fingertips is nice, an original iPod is like that app as a device. You don't need to worry about your phone battery or its other functions, and that "clicky wheel" is one of the most satisfying buttons every created. You can strap it to your arm and go for a run, or throw it in your pocket and forget about it. You don't have that luxury with a phone.

Aux cords also made listening to music easy, and passing your friend the aux was way easier than trying to get their phone to connect with your car's spotty bluetooth. It kept people off of their touchscreen dashboards while driving too.

Here are 23 pieces of "obsolete" tech that people won't stop using.

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1.
“Ipod Classic. 160GB with a clicky wheel.”
2.
“Winamp. Still my favorite audio player.”
3.
“Paper maps are considered by many to be obsolete, but they are essential for hiking or just being in an area away from civilization where cell service can be unreliable to nonexistent.”
4.
“Regular, non smart watches.”
5.
“Aux cords.”
6.
“My 20 year old TI-83 calculator. So many good features.”
7.
“RSS. I like the content that I pick, not the whims of an algorithm.”
8.
“Keys for opening my car door/starting the car. I'm not down with the whole push-to-start/keyless entry thing.”
9.
“I prefer to spend cash. It helps my brain process the spending. I'm still bad with money but I got tired of swiping and praying. A lot of venues are cashless now - hate it.”
10.
“Wired headphones.”
11.
“It is not obsolete really. But my 1999 VW Golf. I despise new cars and refuse to get one even if I had the money for it.”
12.
“I want my physical media. When all these companies start pulling licenses, selling them to new people, making it harder to access content, I want to be able to pull my Blu-ray, DVD, CD, or whatever other media it’s in off the shelf and watch it.”
13.
“Physical game cartridges.”
14.
“Regular buttons in a car instead of touch screen everything.”
15.
“Handwritten agendas/planners. Writing stuff out by hand in general.”
16.
“I had a hand crank egg beater. I freaking loved that thing.”
17.
“Still use a dedicated mp3 player with wired earphones. Always will.”
18.
“Fountain pens. I take a lot of notes because I do a lot of research and writing. I mean hours at a time. Featuring details I have to learn as I go. Fountain pens are the only kind of writing instrument I can use that doesn't tire out my hand. Or my brain. It gets out of my way and stays out of my way.”
19.
“I’m a school librarian - print books are nowhere near as obsolete as people seem to think. Kids still devour them!”
20.
“Manual can openers. I hate the electric ones.”
21.
“Wired mice on my PC. No need worrying about a battery dying and it’s not like I need to walk around the room far away from my keyboard carrying my mouse. Alas, they’re becoming less common.”
22.
“My 1983 Brother knitting machine.”
23.
“Sharp pencil and paper. Just cuz.”

1.
“Ipod Classic. 160GB with a clicky wheel.”
2.
“Winamp. Still my favorite audio player.”
3.
“Paper maps are considered by many to be obsolete, but they are essential for hiking or just being in an area away from civilization where cell service can be unreliable to nonexistent.”
4.
“Regular, non smart watches.”
5.
“Aux cords.”
6.
“My 20 year old TI-83 calculator. So many good features.”
7.
“RSS. I like the content that I pick, not the whims of an algorithm.”
8.
“Keys for opening my car door/starting the car. I'm not down with the whole push-to-start/keyless entry thing.”
9.
“I prefer to spend cash. It helps my brain process the spending. I'm still bad with money but I got tired of swiping and praying. A lot of venues are cashless now - hate it.”
10.
“Wired headphones.”
11.
“It is not obsolete really. But my 1999 VW Golf. I despise new cars and refuse to get one even if I had the money for it.”
12.
“I want my physical media. When all these companies start pulling licenses, selling them to new people, making it harder to access content, I want to be able to pull my Blu-ray, DVD, CD, or whatever other media it’s in off the shelf and watch it.”
13.
“Physical game cartridges.”
14.
“Regular buttons in a car instead of touch screen everything.”
15.
“Handwritten agendas/planners. Writing stuff out by hand in general.”
16.
“I had a hand crank egg beater. I freaking loved that thing.”
17.
“Still use a dedicated mp3 player with wired earphones. Always will.”
18.
“Fountain pens. I take a lot of notes because I do a lot of research and writing. I mean hours at a time. Featuring details I have to learn as I go. Fountain pens are the only kind of writing instrument I can use that doesn't tire out my hand. Or my brain. It gets out of my way and stays out of my way.”
19.
“I’m a school librarian - print books are nowhere near as obsolete as people seem to think. Kids still devour them!”
20.
“Manual can openers. I hate the electric ones.”
21.
“Wired mice on my PC. No need worrying about a battery dying and it’s not like I need to walk around the room far away from my keyboard carrying my mouse. Alas, they’re becoming less common.”
22.
“My 1983 Brother knitting machine.”
23.
“Sharp pencil and paper. Just cuz.”